Compare towns
Natick vs Needham vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Natick has the most affordable homes ($821k median).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Arlington has the most renters (38.4% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Natick | Needham | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873 |
32,459Lowest |
46,350Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Natick and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Natick and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$150,701±$5k 45% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25kLowest 46% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$933,800±$23k 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,082±$76Lowest 18% above MA |
| Needham and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914Lowest 49% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,604 60% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
61.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Arlington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #29 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Needham | Arlington |
| High school in town | Natick High | Needham High | Arlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
11.9Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.